Friday, January 25, 2013Autopsies show cocaine in victims of Cleveland police shootingTimothy Russell and Malissa Williams were chased by up to 30 police units for nearly half an hour before being shot and killedby WKSU's KEVIN NIEDERMIER

ReporterKevin Niedermier

In The Region:

A Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s report shows both suspects shot by Cleveland police following a high-speed chase in November had drugs in their systems. The report says cocaine and amphetamines were found in driver Timothy Russell’s blood. And, passenger Malissa Williams had cocaine and marijuana in her system.

The shooting outraged many people because the suspects were each shot more than 20 times after the chase. Altogether, police fired nearly 140 shots at the pair. Officers maintain the shooting was justified because Russell tried to hit them with his car.

According to reports, the chase started in downtown Cleveland after an officer thought he heard a gunshot come from Russell’s car. So far, no evidence has been reported showing the couple had a gun. The Cleveland Police Union says the shootings were justified because the driver tried to ram an officer with his car. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is helping with the case.